TO THE READER.

[...morning], until the wine has inflamed them. And harps, and lutes, drums and pipes, and wine are in their feasts: but they do not behold the work of the Lord, and they do not look upon the creation of his hands. original: "maar sy aanschouwen het werck des Heeren niet, ende sy en sien niet op het maacksel sijner handen." A reference to Isaiah 5:11-12, where the prophet warns those who pursue pleasure while ignoring the Divine.

While these sayings are of an eternal truth; what benefit can all the exercises, sciences, and arts be to us, if they do not lead us to this single end, which is God? For while all knowledge, both supernatural and natural, is his generous gift—and seeing that the corruption of our nature cannot produce a single good thing—it is therefore a praiseworthy and righteous matter that we, through those Divine gifts and favors, climb back up to the Giver and the Father of all lights A biblical title for God from the Epistle of James 1:17: "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights.": so that we may gratefully pour those small streams of his Mercies back into the immeasurable sea of his Goodness.

If you now, attentive Reader, behold with understanding eyes the description of the Mayfly Mayfly Dutch: Haft. This is the common name for the Ephemeron. Swammerdam uses its fleeting life as a metaphor for human existence., and if you well consider the wonders that I display to Your Honor in this little animal: then you shall behold God there at every moment. For who else could it be, who would have formed so many wonderful parts in such smallness, and in the meager space of two inches...